Leaf-support.



T. HAUSER. 'LEAF SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.19, 1910 Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

T. HAUSER. LEAF SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19, 1910. Patented Oct. 4

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THEODORE I-IAUSER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO 'II-IE GARVY COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LEAF-SUPPORT.

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To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THEoDonE Hausen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Leaf-Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to leafsupports for couches, sofa-beds, etc.

My primary object is to provide a leafsupport, characterized by improved locking and releasing operations.

A further object is to provide a leaf-support of the character indicated adapted peculiarly to the purpose of securing a swinging leaf of a sofa bed in either a standing vertical position or a horizontal position, while capable of facile release from either of said positions to permit the leafl to fall to a vertical depending position.

The present invent-ion, while relating especially to couches, or sofa-beds of the type shown in my Patents No. 7 67,059 and No. 7 89,4125, granted, respectively, August 9, 1904 and May 9, 1905, possesses important advantages over the structures disclosed in said patents, from the stand point both of operation and economy of construction.

The invent-ion is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a transverse sectional view of an all-metal couch or sofa-bed equipped with my improvement; Fig. 2, a broken perspective view showing my iinproved leaf-supporting link in the position it occupies when the leaf is in a vertical standing position; Fig. 3, a broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. t, a rear view of the parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 3 and showing a position of the parts in the releasing operation; Fig. 6, a sect-ion taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7, a section taken as indicated at line 7 of Fig.

In a couch, or sofa-bed, of the general construction here shown, the main parts are a stationary frame A supporting a seat, and one o-r more swinging leaves capable of assuming different positions.

In the drawings, I have shown one swinging leaf B capable of assuming either a vertical depending position, as shown in full lines, or a horizontal position, as shown in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 19, 1910.

`right 2 1s provided.

Patented Oct. e, 1910.

Serial No. 538,851.

dotted lilies; and another swinging leaf C capable of assuming a vertical standing position, as shown in full lines, or either a horizontal position or a vertical depending position, as shown in dotted lines.

The present invention relates to the leafsupporting links for the leaf C, the subjectmatter of the construction pertaining to the .leaf I3 and its supporting link being shown and claimed in my pending application No. 512,701, filed August 13, 1909.

The stationary frame, in the illustration, is of the usual form, and comprises endstandards A1 (one only shown) and connect-ing anglo-bars A2. Each end-standard has aV horizontal angle-form top member 1 and vertical corner members, or uprights, 2 supported on a. base-member 3. The rear upright 2 has a flange 1 which is parallel with the end of the couch and turned toward the companion upright, and a flange 5 which is parallel with the side of the couch and turned toward the end-standard at vthe other end of the couch. The top member 1 of the end-standard has projecting end-portions 6 with the horizonal flanges cut away to afford shoulders 7. The leaf C is pivoted to the vertical flange of the projection 6 as indicated at S. Said leaf C is capable of swinging to a vertical standing position, in which position it bears against the shoulder 7 or the leaf may assume a horizontal position, or a vertical depending position parallel with the side of the couch. The couchframe is of angle-bar construction throughout, as are also the swinging leaves B and C, this being a common construction in sanitary or all-steel couches.

D represents my improved leaf-supporting link. It preferably comprises a steel bar having its outer or upper end connected, by a pivot 9, with the vertical flange of the leaf C, said link extending through a guideslot 10 with which the flange 5 of the up- Assuming the leaf C to occupy the standing position bearing against the shoulder 7, the link D has a straight vertical portion 11 which bears against the rear or under surface of the flange 13 of said leaf, an inclined portion 14 which extends through the guide-slot 10, and a depending extension 15 at the inner end which lies adjacent to the flange 4 and has its rear edge bearing against the flange of the upright 2. The inclined portion 14;

of the link is provided with a narrow notch 16 adapted to engage the bottom of the guide-slot 10 when the leaf C occupies the horizontal position, so that said leaf will b e thereby supported in the horizontal position. The frontI or inner edge of the flange l is provided some distance beneath the guide-slot 10 and the longitudinal angle-bar A2 of the main frame with an inturned tongue or stop 17, whose rear surface affords a locking shoulder. The front edge of the down-turned extension 15 of the link B is provided with a recess 18 adapted to engage the stop 17 when the parts are in the position shown in F 2. The extreme lower end of the depending` portion 15 of the link is turned laterally7 to afford an inclined cam 19. Connected with the flange 4 adjacent to the cam 19 is a movable cam, or wedge, which comprises a bar 2O united by a pivot 21 to said flange. The rear end of the bar 2O extends through a slot 22 in the flange 5, thereby affording a rearwardly-extending projection 23 which may be depressed by foot-pressure, thereby to elevate the front or wedge-portion Qa into operative engagement with the cam 19. The front arm of the member Q0 is longer than the rear arm, so that the member tends to tilt forwardly and downwardly. y

T he adjacent end of the longitudinal frame-member A2 is secured to the flange 5 of the upright` but does not extend quite to the flange et of said upright, a space 25 being allowed between the end of the member A: and the flange et. The guide-slot 10 which is preferably cut through the flange 5, comprises a vertical slot 2G having a locking shoulder 27 at its lower end, and an offset slot-portion 28 having a rearwardly turned cam 29 formed at its lower end. Cverhanging the slot-portion 26 is an inclined camsurface 30 which is adapted to serve in shifting the leaf-supporting link to the slot-portion 2S when the leaf C is raised some distance above the horizontal position. Vhen the leaf C occupies the horizontal position, the notch 1b engages the locking shoulder 27, and the link-extension 15 extends over the horizontal flange 31 of the longitudinal angle-bar A2 near the end of said bar. As the leaf C is raised to the vertical standing posi.- tion, the link-extension 15 rides on the edge of the flange 31, thereby elevating the link and the link is forced sidewise as the upper edge of the inclined portion 14 of the link engages the inclined or beveled cam-surface 30. Finally, as the movcmentcontinues, the lower end of the link drops off the flange 31 into the space 25, and the lower end-portion of the link-extension 15 slips past the stop 17 and finally lodges behind said stop, the link yielding or being flexed somewhat laterally to permit this movement to occur. In this portion of the operation, the intermediate portion of the link engages the upper portion of the beveled surface 39 of the guide-slot 10, the beveled surface thus coacting in the action of flexing the resilient link.

lith the parts in the condition shown in Fig. 2, the leaf C engages the shoulder 7 of the main frame at a point above the pivot S, the inclined portion 1l of the link D engages theupper portion of the slot 10, and the lower portion of the link-extension 15 is confined between the stop 17 and the flange 5 of t-he upright 2. Thus it appears that the leaf C is immovably fixed in the upright standing position, an exceedingly secure locking arrangement being provided. Then it is desired to release the leaf C, the operator depresses the rear end-portion 23 of the camlever 20, thereby forcing the wedge-portion 21 between the cam 19 and flange l, and so springing the link-extension 15 laterally to such an extent as to enable it to passthe stop 17. lt follows thatl the leaf C may then be lowered to the vertical depending position, in which operation the lower edge of the inclined portion 1l of the link rides upon the cam 29.

According to the illustration given, the cam 29 is formed by bending a portion of the flange 5 rearwardly, and said cam is shown as provided with a substantially horizontal surface 32 over which the link rides at the time that the notch 16 is passing the flange 5, so that the link, at this time, will ride upon the cam wit-hout falling into the slot-portion 26. As shown in F ig. 7, the surface of the cam 29 is rounded or beveled, in the rear of the section shown in Fig. G, as indicated at 33, so that the link will tend to slide from the cam and drop into the slot 2G when the link engages said beveled portion, owing to the change in angle of the link during the continued lowering movement of the leaf C. In practice, the natural rounding of the metal which is produced in the manufacture is sufficient to effect the desired result; and, indeed, the relation of the parts is such that the leaf-supporting link will eventually fall into the slot 26 before the leaf C reaches its lowermost position, even though the cam 29 is not rounded. To permit the lateral swinging of the link, the pivotal connection at 9 is somewhat loose; and washers 34 are employed to space the upper end of the link with relation to the flange of the leaf C to which the link is attached, so that as the leaf is lowered the tendency is to throw' the link into thc slot portion 26.

lt may be added that when the link-extension 15 slips olf the end of the flange 31 of the longitudinal frame-member A2, in the operation of swinging the leaf C to the vertical standing position, t-he momentum is sufficient to throw the link well over into CII the cam 29 and somewhat away from thc beveled surface 30. In the further move-b ment, however, the upper edge of the inclined portion of the link is engaged again by the upper portion of the beveled surface 30, so that said beveled surface serves as a cam tending to hold the intermediate portion of the link close to the flange e, While the lateral flexing of the link occurs during the time when the lower portion of the link is passing the locking lug 17 of the main frame. if desired, the link-extension may be cut away, as indica-ted at the dotted line 35, and the link employed merely for supporting the leaf in a horizontal position. In such case, the link would be adapted for use in connection with the leaf B; or it would serve to support the leaf C in a horizontal position, but would not serve to support said leaf in a vertical standing position. A positive release would be secured however.

rI`he foregoing' detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only. Hence no undue limitation is to be understood therefrom, but the appended claims are to be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

lWhat I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a main frame, of a leaf pivoted thereto, a link pivoted to said leaf, and cooperating locking means on the frame and link whereby the leaf may be locked in a vertical position with reference to said frame, or in the same horizontal plane therewith, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a. structure of the character set forth, the combination with a main frame provided with a locking shoulder, and a swinging leaf, of a leaf-supporting link provided with a locking-extension, and means for producing lateral tl-exurc of said link in the operation of moving it to the looking position.

3. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination with a main frame provided with a laterally extending projection affording a locking shoulder, and a swinging leaf, of a leafsupporting link provided with a locking extension adapted to pass said projection and engage said locking shoulder, and means for producing lateral fleXure of said link during the time it is passing said lateral projection.

4l. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame having a guide provided with a locking shoulder and above said shoulder' with an offset affording a cam, a swinging leaf, a link pivotally connected with said leaf and extending through said guide, said link being provided with a locking notch, and means for shifting the free end of said link laterally to cause the link to ride upon said cam, for the purpose set forth.

In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame provided with a guide equipped with a locking shoulder, and a cam offset from the plane of said locking shoulder, a swinging leaf, and a leaf-supporting link pivot-ally connected with said leaf and extending through said guide, said guide having an inclined portion adapted to effect lateral shifting 0f the said link to cause the link to engage said cam.

In a structure of t-he character set forth, the combination of a main frame provided with a guide equipped with a locking shoulder and above and at one side of said locking shoulder with a cam, a swinging leaf, and a leaf-supporting link pivotally connected with said leaf and extending through said guide, said link having` an intermediate portion provided with a locking notch and having an inner end-extension, a stop carried by the main frame past which said linkextension is adapted to be sprung, and means for producing a counteracting pressure upon the intermediate portion of said link while the link-extension is passing said stop.

7. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame provided with a locking projection, a swinging leaf adapted to assume a standing position, a link pivotally connected with said leaf and passing through a guide carried by said frame, said link having a locking extension adapted to be sprung past said locking projection of the main frame, and a movable releasing cam adapted to co-act with said locking extension of said link.

8. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame provided with a guide-slot and beneath said guideslot with a lateral projection adording a locking shoulder in its rear, a swinging leaf, and a leaf-supporting link pivotally connected with said leaf and extending through said guide-slot, said link having a locking extension adapted to pass said locking projection and lockingly engage therewith.

v9. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame, a swinging leaf adapted to assume a standing position, a guide carried by the frame, a leaf-supporting link pivotally joined to said leaf and having an intermediate portion extending through said guide and a locking-extension beyond, and a laterally turned locking-projection carried by the frame and having a beveled upper surface.

10. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame provided with a guide and beneath said guide within the frame with a locking-projection, a leaf pivotally connected with said frame and adapted to assume a standing position, a stop carried by said frame located above the pivotal connection of said leaf adapted to be engaged by the leaf in the standing position thereof, and a link pivotally connected with said leaf and having an intermediate portion extending through said guide and a locking-extension adapted to engage said locking projection of said frame.

11. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having a guide and provided beneath said guide with a locking-projection, a pivoted leaf connected with said frame, a leaf-supporting link connected with said leaf and comprising, assuming the leaf to be in the standing position, a vertical portion lying adjacent to the leaf, an inclined portion extending through said guide and provided with a locking notch, and a depending locking extension adapted to engage said locking projection.

12. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame having an angle-form upright with a guideslot in its rear flange, an angle-form leafmember pivotally connected with the top member of said frame, the top member of said frame having a stop against which the leaf is adapted to bear above its pivotal connection, a link pivotally connected with said leaf-member and having a vertical portion engaging said leaf-member, an inclined portion extending` through said guide and a depending locking portion, and a lateral locking-projection carried by said angle-form upright.

13. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a f'ame provided with a guide having a locking shoulder and an offset-cam, a swinging leaf, and a leafsupporting link pivotally connected with said leaf and extending through said guide, said link having an intermediate portion provided with a locking notch and having also an extension located within the frame, and a cam located within the frame and adapted to co-act with said extension to cause lateral shifting of the free end of said link, for the purpose set forth.

1l. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a. frame having an angle-form upright with one of its flanges provided with a guide and an offset-cam and the other of its flanges provided at a lower plane with a lateral locking-projection. a frame-member connected with said first-named flange and affording a cam, a space being left between the end of said frame-member and said second-named flange, a swinging leaf, and a leaf-supporting link pivotally connected therewith and extending through said guide, said link having an intermediate portion provided with a locking notch and an inner end-extension adapted to lockingly engage said lateral projection.

15. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having an angle-form upright provided in one of its flanges with a guide-slot having a locking shoulder and an offset-cam above said locking shoulder, a lateral locking-projection carried by the other flange of said upright and located beneath said guide, and a movable wedge-member having a projection extending through said first-named flange, whereby said wedge-member may be thrown to the operative position from the rear of said structure.

16. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame provided with a guide, a swinging leaf, a leaf-supporting link extending through said guide and provided with a locking-extension having a laterally-turned cam at its extremity, a lateral locking projection carried by the main frame and a movable wedge-member located adjacent to said laterally-turned cam.

17. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame provided with a guide, a swinging leaf, a leaf-supporting link extending through said guide and provided with a locking-extension, and a lateral locking-extension carried by the frame and provided with a beveled upper surface.

18. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a frame having an upright angle-bar with one of its flanges provided with a guide-slot and an offset slotportion with a cam at the bottom thereof, said cam formed by bending the material of said liange rearwardly, a lateral lockingprojection carried by the other flange of said upright and located beneath said guide-slot,'

a swinging leaf adapted to assume a standing position, and a leaf-supporting link having an intermediate portion extending through said guide-slot and a locking-extension, for the purpose set forth.

19. In a structure of the character set forth, the combination of a main frame having a guide provided with a locking shoulder and above said shoulder with an offset affording a cam, a frame-member beneath said guide affording a cam within said frame, a swinging leaf, and a link pivotally connected with said leaf and extending through said guide, said link being provided with a locking notch and having an extension adapted to coact with saidv cam within said frame in effecting lateral movement of the free end of the link to cause the link to engage said first-named cam.

THEODORE HAUSER.

In presence of- A. U. THoRniN, It. A. SCI-marian. 

